IATA Guidance Document on Infectious Substances - Post Office

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Classification For transport purposes the classification of infectious substances according to risk groups was removed from the DGR in the 46 th edition (2005). Infectious substances are now classified either as Category A or Category B. There is no direct relationship between Risk Groups and categories A and B. Category A Infectious Substances are infectious substances in a form that, when exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals. They are assigned the following UN numbers and proper shipping names: . • UN 2814 – Infectious Substance, affecting humans; or . • UN 2900 – Infectious Substance, affecting animals only. Assignment to UN 2814 or UN 2900 is to be based on the known medical history and symptoms of the source human or animal, endemic local conditions, or professional judgment concerning individual circumstances of the source human or animal. If there is any doubt as to whether or not a pathogen falls within this category it must be transported as a Category A Infectious Substance. Clinical wastes containing Category A infectious substances must be assigned to UN 2814 or UN 2900, as appropriate. To assist in the assignment of an infectious substance into Category A see the Indicative List provided in Table 3.6.D in the DGR. That list, however is not exhaustive. Infectious substances, including new or emerging pathogens, which do not appear in the table but which meet the same criteria must be assigned to Category A. Category B Infectious Substances are Infectious Substances that do not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A. They are assigned the following UN number and proper shipping name: • UN 3373 – Biological Substance, Category B Clinical wastes containing Category B infectious substances must be assigned to UN 3291. Further assistance on the classification of infectious substances can be obtained from the national health or veterinary authority. (See Annex 1 for Classification Scenarios and Annex 2 for a Classification Flowchart.) Exceptions • Substances, which do not contain infectious substances, or substances, which are unlikely to cause disease in humans or animals, are not subject to the <strong>IATA</strong> DGR unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class; • Substances containing micro-organisms, which are non-pathogenic to humans or animals are not subject to the DGR unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class; • Substances in a form that any present pathogens have been neutralized or inactivated such that they no longer pose a health risk are not subject to the DGR unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class; • Environmental samples (including food and water samples), which are not considered to pose a significant risk of infection, are not subject to the DGR unless they
meet the criteria for inclusion in another class; • Dried blood spots, collected by applying a drop of blood onto absorbent material, or faecal occult blood screening tests and blood or blood components which have been collected for the purposes of transfusion or for the preparation of blood products to be used for transfusion or transplantation and any tissues or organs intended for use in transplantation are not subject to the DGR; • Patient specimens for which there is minimal likelihood that pathogens are present are not subject to the DGR if the specimen is transported in Packaging for Exempt Patient Specimens (see below for the Packaging requirements for Exempt Patient Specimens). Note: In determining whether a patient specimen has a minimal likelihood that pathogens are present, an element of professional judgment is required to determine if a substance is exempt under this paragraph. That judgment should be based on the known medical history, symptoms and individual circumstances of the source, human or animal, and endemic local conditions. Examples of specimens which may be transported under this paragraph include the blood or urine tests to monitor cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels, hormone levels, or prostate specific antigens (PSA); tests required to monitor organ function such as heart, liver or kidney function for humans or animals with non-infectious diseases, or therapeutic drug monitoring; tests conducted for insurance or employment purposes and are intended presence of drugs or alcohol; pregnancy tests; biopsies to detect cancer; and antibody detection in humans or animals in the absence of any concern for infection (e.g. evaluation of vaccine induced immunity, diagnosis of autoimmune disease, etc.). Packaging for Exempt Patient Specimens Patient specimens (human or animal) that have a minimal likelihood of containing pathogens must be packaged appropriately to further minimize the risk of exposure. While these specimens have a minimal likelihood of containing infectious pathogens in a form that would cause infection, appropriate packaging further minimizes the risk of exposure. Exempt human or animal specimens must be packaged and marked according to the following: (i) a leak-proof primary receptacle(s); (ii) a leak-proof secondary packaging; and (iii) an outer packaging of adequate strength for its capacity, mass and intended use, and with at least one surface having minimum dimensions of 100 mm × 100 mm; For liquids, absorbent material in sufficient quantity to absorb the entire contents must be placed between the primary receptacle(s) and the secondary packaging so that, during transport, any release or leak of a liquid substance will not reach the outer packaging and will not compromise the integrity of the cushioning material. When multiple fragile primary receptacles are placed in a single secondary packaging, they must be either individually wrapped or separated to prevent contact between them. If such a packaging is used it must be marked "Exempt human specimen" or "Exempt animal specimen", as appropriate. (See Annex 5 for a graphic depiction of an Exempt Patient Specimen Packaging) If other dangerous goods are present with patient specimens the relevant provisions of the DGR apply to those goods. When dangerous goods intended for air transport are carried by surface transport to or
Page 1: Guidance D
Page 5 and 6: Mitigation procedure: DO NOT CLEAN-
Page 7 and 8: ANNEX 2 - Classification Flowchart
Page 9 and 10: ANNEX 4 Example of Packing and Mark

IATA Guidance Document on Infectious Substances - Post Office

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